Electrical-conductor connection



June 8 1926. 1,587,770

F.. H. GIBBS. ET AL ELECTRI CAL CUNDUCTOR CONNECTION Filed Dec. ll, 1926 inventor Patented June 3192.

UNITED S-'l-AT'FS A' PATENT FRANK H. GIBBS AND ERNEST FRED DDSON, OF PORTLAND; OREGONai ELECTRICAL-CONDUCTOR Colfblilc'l-1'ON.V

Application filed December This invention relates to improvements in electrical conductor connections, having tor an object to provide a connector especially advantageous for use in conjunction with telephones, whereby a freely rotatable connection may be made between the-translating apparatus of the phone and the phone stand proper, thus preventing twisting of the wires and inconvenience to a user of the phone, aswell as stressing the conductors.

it is likewise an object ot the invention to provide a connector ot' the character meny tioned utilizing a novel form of electrical contacts, capable of tree rotary motion without, in any way whatsoever, interrupting or interfering with the electrical intelligence transmitting circuits.

@ther objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order thatV the invention and its mode ofoperation may be readily understoodY by persons skilled in the art, we have in the accompanying illustrative drawings, and in the detailed Jfollowing` description. based thereon, set out one possible embodiment ot the same. y p

In these drawings V:- y v Figure 1 is a top` plan view of the improved connector showing the casing removed;

Figure 2is aA vertical transverse section therethrough, taken on ,the line 2-2 otFigure 1 looking' in the direction in'which the arrows point and with the casing thereon; and,

Figure 3 is a detail in perspective ofthe conductor outlet' tube; y

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters otreference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the improved connector may be stated to comprise a base 1 `formed of insulating material, such as libre or the like, having apertured ears2 extended from the opposite Side portions, as shown in the Figure 1, while aforwardly' disposed extension or lipS having a thickened portion 4 is formed upon another of the sides thereof andwserves as means for receiving contact Vplates generally indicated by the' numeral 5, such plates being secured in position upon the upper facev ot the thickened portion 4 in equi-distant relation through the medium of screws 6, or similar fastening devices, while conductor securing terminals 11, i923. serial no.v 679,996.

7, 8 and 9 are arranged upon tlievarious Contact plates 5 and secured thereto by pass` ing bolts 10 through the same and the adjacent portions of the thickened portion 4; locking nuts 11 beingv turned into engagement-with the screw threaded eXtreinitiesot i and having springfingers 16 secured to the upper sides thereof and extending above the saine whereby to yieldably 'support other copper or other electrically conductive rings, generally indicated by the numeralj 17these latter contact rings being arranged in proxunity' to the open upper ends' of the varibus ways 12, 13 and 14, as is sho-wn' in the' Figure 2. l

A cap comprising a body portion formed of insulating material correspondingto that off the base 1- and indicated bythe numeral 18'is providedl the' connectorandha's circular ways formed in the under Vside' thereof and arranged in concentric fashion' and is indicated by the numerals 12', 13" and1 14', such ways b'eing'so arranged in the bottom' face ofthe cap 18 as to coincide with the arrangement of the ways 12, 13 and 14 respectively. Copper or other electrically conductive contact rings generally indicated by the numeral 19 are arranged within the various ways 12' 13' and 14', whilev springfingers 2O are arranged adjacent their outer faces andl serve to yieldably receive. other copper or' suitably electrically conductive contact rings 21 thereon, as is ,shown in the Figure 2; Thus, it will beV understood. that thecontactrings 17 and- 21" aregyieldably received within' their respective Ways, 12, 12', 13, '13', 14 and 14'. Y u

Loosely and rotatably positioned' between the adjacenttaces of the base 1 and the cap 18 is a disc 22 formed of libre", or .other suitable insulating material having. a plurality of slots or ways cut or otherwise formed therein, such slots or ways servingto loosely receive and retain copper or other'electrically conductive rollers 23therein, the peripheral portions of which contact directly with the adjacent portions or faces oflthe contacty rings 17 and 21, thus electrically connecting such contact rings as well as the rings 15 and 19 which are connected thereto through the medium of the spring fingers 16 and 20.

To rotatably connect the cap 18 to the base 1, a headed pivot pin 24 is passed through a bearing opening located concentrically of said cap and said base, as shown inFigure 2, the lower endof the pivot pin being received in a pocket 25 formed in the under side of the base 1 and being locked with relation thereto through the lmedium of a locking pin 26 passing through the lower end of the pivot pin and having the opposite extremities thereof engageable with a washer or similar device `27 arranged in said pocket and over the extended end of the pivot pin 24. Preferably, anti-frictional bearings, mounted in suitable race ways or keepers indicated by the numeral k28 are arranged in the upper portion of the cap 18 and receive a bearing washer 29 thereon, which washer in turn, receives adjacent portions of the head of the pivot pin 24. Thus, free rotation of the cap 18 with respect to .the pivot pin 24 as well as the base 1 is ensured.

Electrical conductors 30, 31 and 32 are extended from the contact plates 5 upon the thickened portion 4 of the base 1 into engagement with portions of the Contact rings 15 arranged in the circular ways 12, 13 and 14, whileY contact terminals 30', 31 and 32 are arranged upon the upper side of the rotatable cap 18 and are connected to the contact rings 19 through the medium of electrical conductors 33.

The electrical conductors of the intelligence transmitting circuits of a telephone equipped with the improved connector are adapted to be connected to the contact terminals 7, 8, 9, 30', 31 and 32 and in order that those portions of the conductors connected to the terminals 30, 31 and 32 may be properly led from the connector, we provide a tubular member 34, forming the same of iibre or other suitable insulating material and providing it with a flanged basal portion 35 having openings 36 formed therein, wherebywhen said basal portion is potitioned upon the circular cap 18 directly over the pivot pin 24, locking screws 37may be passed therethrough into engagement with the screw threaded openings formed in adj acent portions of said cap 18. Hence, the tubular member 34 will be rigidly secured in its position upon the cap 18. The lower portion of the tubular member, together with its flanged basal portion 35 is formed with a slot or way 38, through which the conductors led into engagement with the. device are passed and then properly distributed for connection to their Vcontact terminals 30', 31 and 32 in a suitable manner.

A circular or substantially cylindrical casing or shield 39 is provided the connector and is adapted to be engaged therewith in the manner shown in Figure 2, the lower portion of said casing being secured in position upon the base 1 throughthe medium of suitable locking screws 40, while the upper constricted end thereof is provided with au opening 41 through which the upper portion of the tubular member 34 extends.

We also find it preferable to employ a clamping screw in connection with the tubular member 34 whereby to prevent the application of stress to the conductors passing through said tubular member 34 and especially, to the conductors at their points of connection with the contact terminals 30, 31 and 32 and in this direction, a circular band 42 is provided, being snugly arranged about the lower portion of the tubular member 34 adjacent the way 38 formed therein and carries thereon a laterally extendingl lock 43 provided with a screw threaded opening through which a clamping screw 44 formed of suitable insulating material may pass. The inner end of this screw is adapted to be turned through the way 38 into engagement with adjacent portions of the elec trical conductors passing through the tubular member 34 and when so engaged, it will be understood that the application orpull y to the conductors at points adjacent their connectionV with the contact terminals 30, 31 and 32 will be avoided and hence, the eii'ecting of a positive electrical connection at these points will be at all times secured.

In using the improved connector, the basal portion is suitably fixed or secured to an object through the medium of the apertured ears 2, screws or other fastening devices being passed through the openings in. such ears into engagement with the receiving object. Leads or conductors are then extended from the terminals of the trans-V 4 lating apparatus of the telephone into engagement with the contact terminals 7, 8 and 9, whereupon they are secured to the same by adjustment of the bolts 10. Those conductors extending from the phone stand proper now have the free ends thereof' passed through the tubular member 34 from the way 38, whereupon they are properly connected to the various contact terminals 30', 31 and 32 their arrangement corresponding with the arrangement of the leads from the translating apparatus of the telephone to the terminals 7 8 and 9. The housing V39 is now arranged in position upon the connector, whereupon the device is ready for use, it being understood that the conductors passing through the tubular member 34 have been properly engaged by the clamping screw 44 for the prevention of stress upon the conductors at the points of theirrconnection with their respective contact terminals.

Because of the electrical connection between the various Contact rings 15 and 17 and 19 and 21 through the medium of the spring pressed ngers 16 and 20 and the various contact rollers 23, it will be understood that electrical circuits through the various conductors will be permitted and furthermore, that with rotation of the cap 18 upon the base 1, such electrical circuits will in no way be interrupted or interfered with, since the various contact rollers 23 will at all times remain in positive contact with their respective contact rings, this condition being rendered positive by reason of the yieldable seating of the contact rings 17 and 21 in their respective ways. Thus, it will be understood that the wires leading from the connector directly to the phone stand proper may be turned or rotated without possibility of their twisting and serving to inconvenience a user of the phone or possibly, stress the conductors to such an extent as to rupture the same or in some way interfere with the transmission ot electrical intelligence thereover.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification yand such modification as is within the scope of our claim, we consider within the spirit of our invention.

A device of the character described comprising a base, electrical contact terminals on said base, the upper face of said base having a plurality of circular concentrically arranged ways formed therein, contact rings arranged in said ways, other contact rings arranged in said ways, spaced from and yieldably supported with relation to said first contact rings and electrically connected thereto, a cap rotatably mounted upon said base., the lower side of said cap having a plurality of circular concentrically arranged ways formed therein corresponding to the ways formed in the adjacent face of said base, contact ringsy arranged in said ways formed in the cap, othercontact rings arranged in said last mentioned ways spaced from and yieldably positioned with respect to the first contact rings received therein and electrically connected thereto, contact terminals arranged upon the cap, means for electrically connecting all of said contact rings to their respective Contact terminals, circuit closing means movably arranged between the adjacent portions of said base and cap and engaging with the adjacent contact rings7 and a tubular conductor receiving member rigidly supported upon the upper central portion of said cap and having a way formed in the lower portion thereof.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

FRANK H. GIBBS. ERNEST FRED DODSON. 

